Volunteers paint Families in Transition House during day of service

By Liz Markhlevskaya

lmark@fosters.com

fosters.com

By Liz Markhlevskaya

lmark@fosters.com

Posted Jan. 20, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Liz Markhlevskaya

lmark@fosters.com

Posted Jan. 20, 2013 at 3:15 AM

DOVER — On Saturday, local volunteers took out their painting clothes, paint brushes and rollers, and dove into a daylong project that will benefit the Families in Transition House, which is slated to open as early as next month.

All day Saturday, volunteers from around the area were painting walls at 576 Central Ave., a future location of a housing facility for women with low income. The work was done as part of the National Day of Service, established by the Obama family about four years ago. National Day of Service encourages citizens to get out in their communities and make a positive difference.

Meaghan Hull, volunteer coordinator for Families in Transition, said the ribbon cutting for the Families in Transition House is scheduled for Feb. 6. Before then, the walls and ceilings of the sizable house need to be painted, and offices are being converted into bedrooms.

“We would not be able to get this building finished without volunteers,” said Debbie Bodell, member of the presidential inaugural committee and project lead for Saturday’s National Day of Service project in Dover. “It’s a lot of painting.”

Among the volunteers was 41-year-old Hannah Traggis, of Rochester, who was brushing off-white paint onto a kitchen wall Saturday afternoon.

“It needs to be done,” said Traggis, when asked about her reasons for participating in the project. “It feels like people are really motivated.”

In the mid-afternoon, Hull told fellow volunteers, “It’s incredible, the amount of work we’ve accomplished today.”

She said the group of about 21 volunteers had finished painting about 12 rooms, a hallway and bathroom.

The house, said Bodell, “is massive.”

Hull said that after Saturday’s work, volunteer efforts will still be needed for painting additional rooms, the ceiling, and the trim.

Those wishing to volunteer painting the Families in Transition House can email volunteer@fitnh.org.